Arms - Argent
a chevron Gules between three broad arrowheads (pheons) Sable.Crest - A swan pierced with an arrow.

Motto - "Transfixus
sed non mortuus" (Pierced but not dead).

Walsh,
Breathnach, Walshe, Welsh, Welch, Brannagh,
Brannick. The Gaelic name Breathnach means ‘British’ or
‘Welsh’, and the name Walsh is a semi-translation of this meaning.
The name arrived in Ireland with the Anglo-Norman invasion at the end of
the 12th century, and was established in a number of different locations
throughout the country. Today, Walsh is the fourth most numerous surname
in Ireland, and is the most numerous in Co. Mayo in the western province
of Connacht.

Joseph Farrell
Walsh

Castlehale stood on
the northern edge of the mountain land, anciently known as the Walsh
Mountains, with a wide outlook across the central plain of County
Kilkenny. Howell, son of Philip, is said to have completed the first
construction of Castle Hale in the thirteenth century. It was situated
in the Barony of Kells in the southern portion of the Parish of
Kilmaganny. Castlehale stood as a residence for the family of Walsh for
close to 400 years. It (Castle Hoyle) is said to have been a square
castle flanked by four towers.

Zion Walsh was King
even if his origins came from the Welshmen who accompanied the Normans
to Ireland centuries before. He prided himself in the building of ships
and his nephew Joseph continued this mastery. It was Joseph
who came across Collin McAndrews in his wanderings and invited him to
his home. Zion had lost his own son a year prior and adopted Collin in a
way that helped filled that void. He saw a lot in Collin that had
been in Brian, the inner battles fought and not fitting in with others
so well at times.

Storm Cloud

Collin for his height,
blond hair and blue eyes stood out amongst those there of dark
hair eyes and shorter stature. Except Joseph had the Irish blue
eyes and was over six feet but with near black curling hair. Joseph's
father had been killed in that same battle. Battle of Tears it had been
written in their history for so many lives lost in the defending of
Ireland and inner clan wars. Joseph and Collin become as brothers in the
years he spent with his clan, fighting side by side until the one he was
nearly killed.

<<Taken from
the play between Collin and Joseph>>

Time waiting was like watching a pot
boil as Collin paced along the short end of the dock. Eventually that
had to cease as a few sailors gathered with low whistles under their
breaths while they too were now curious about the two ships.

"She's a beaut'." One gruff
voice mumbled as the younger sailor next to him was nodding his head.
"She sure is. I'd like tae bae scalin' 'er rigs." So
comments were made as more gathered and implications more lewd added
in comparison of the ship to a woman.

Collin finally stood still, then again
there was not really room to move around at his point. Hands on his
hips while blue eyes were trained on the two ships. They had set
anchor and the sails pulled up and secured along the masts. Two
dinghies were lowered from the Brigantine and one from the
Hermaphrodite. They converged and headed for the docks. The very one
that Collin stood waiting on as it had slips for incoming smaller
boats such as the dinghies. As they neared, Collin spotted Joseph in
the lead with the other two slightly behind. Another scanned proved
that Zion was not with them. A sudden disappointment coiled deep but
then passed off as a smile emerged. He and Joseph had gained a good
rapport during his stay Kilkenny.

Once the dinghies drew close enough Collin
ushered the sailors to give way as they moved back to their ships and
duties or headed for the taverns. Collin moved to where the first
dinghy pulled into a slip as he held out a hand to help Joseph up.

"Yer a sight for sore eyes."
First comment out of Joseph's mouth before clasping Collin's shoulders
and then pulled him into a bear hug before releasing him to step back.
"Yea put the weight back on yea tae." Noted with
satisfaction that his friend had recuperated fully and was hale. Grin
came infectiously with the next comment. "I'll bet yea are woo'in
all the lassies in these lands." Which drew blue eyes to take in
a better sight of these lands they had landed in. They knew by
Collin's return missive that he was a shipwright here so that was
why Barrett's Bay Port was chosen to bring the ship. The sailors that
came in with Joseph secured the dinghies and the dozen or so headed up
to shore to explore. Two remained behind but stood on the docks a
distance down talking between themselves.

Collin met his embrace just as fiercely
before released. Not needing to comment on his health, for it was
obvious, he skipped right on to the next. "I still leave
that up to me brothers." A roll of his shoulders had them
squaring as such comments always hit that nerve. Presently, for
different reasons and Joseph knew well he never chased the ladies even
while in Kilkenny, why his friend took to teasing about it for there
was plenty that had eyed them both while out socially. What was
foremost on his mind came next. "Zion, how is he doing?" A
touch of foreboding and concern could not be helped in his voice.

Blue eyes were taking in all as a hand
drew over the curve of jaw and chin. "Clean," was Joseph's
first comment as he would notice small details as such.
"Buildings bae in guid condition." More mumbled to himself
as his hand fell away with Collin's inquiry and attention torn back there.
"Zion, in general bae good but some matters with neighbor'in
clans, been keep'in him busy." Which Collin would know what he
meant and if Zion needed to stay instead of making this trip, they
warranted him being there for that upscale. "He didn't want me to
wait up bring'in the ship tae yea."

Which at that point he drew out the
documentation that legally gave Collin ownership of the Hermaphrodite.
"She bae The Dragonfly now. Couldn't bring her tae sea without
being Christened." Such would be bad luck. "We picked what
yea had called her." So if it was in jest on Collin's part then
the name was stuck as such. Joseph felt it was befitting for the
reason stated that time ago. "The Dragonfly Goddess bae all
gussied up now." Which was one of the parts that had been
installed when the war broke out and not polished and painted until
months after Collin had gone home.

The news on Zion held a visible relief
as shoulders relaxed but the dip of his brows showed the concern on
the uprisings. "Once I learn how to handle her well, I'll be
coming to your shores." A promise in his words as he took the
document. One could not describe the feeling that spiraled through
him; awe, excitement, pride and others combined as he took a look over
the legalities. The most prominent was the ship's name and his linked
as owner complete, lock, stock and barrel. A low whistle came under
his breath as he folded the document away into a pocket. One to put in
a secured place and the copy included to keep on the ship. "I'll
take you up for a bite to eat at the Thistle. After we're done there,
I would like to see the ship." Which was more appropriate for
Joseph and his status to eat at the Thistle. Collin would hold back
his anxiousness on the ship to at least see to his friend's
comfort first. "How have you been doing? Get married to that
green eyed lass that was always trailing you?" So he could dish
some back as he stepped away so that they could head up to the tavern.

Joe let out a good hearty
laugh as he shook his head. "Pretty as a sunrise that one but she
clung like an octopus. I'll bae having none of that in a lass." One
liked to breathe and octopus was more than just a lot of clinging arms,
they sucked one dry at the same time. "She ran off with one o' the
others she had on the side. One of those that led a few on as if
they were the only one. Crafty that one bae, ended up in a huge
fight between four mons she offered promises tae. I bae nae one o'
'em. Status was what she bae after." Which had him coming to some
changes. "Zion bae announcing me heir o' the year date of me
cousin's death." Joseph missed his cousin deeply and that ceremony
was double fold in emotion. Heart wrenching and elated at the same time
for the honor bestowed. Now he was in training on how to be a good
ruler. One of the reasons he was chosen to come here to learn of other
kingdoms and what better one to start with but the one Collin was from?
"I'll bae asking yea no be spreadin' that around. I need nae
lassies after me fer me status." Teasing more with the last but it
was a new position he struggled with for a few reasons and best be kept
between them. Skipping from there. "I'll be introducing yea tae
these two." Indicating the two men that waited down a distance
respectfully.

"She ran off with another?"
Dark blond brows lifted with a shake of his head. "I'll be dam,
she was a good actress then. She followed you everywhere she possibly
could. I was waiting to find her in the bath house next. Food she
sent, all those invitations to make you dinner. Gifts. Poems of love
and words of her own as such. Four others? She was one very busy
fortune husband hunter." A low whistle as Joe was
right, the woman was crafty! Enough to make a man real paranoid of
women. A wave of his hand, he didn't want to hear anymore on the one.
Done and done, gone and gone, best for his friend. He eyed the two as
they were approached. "Evening." As certainly that
time was approached at this point. The sun lowering to the
horizon. The two men bow their heads to Collin. The one with a
cap on, taking it off to press to his chest as he did while the other
squared his shoulders proudly.

Joseph noticed the sign of
respect by Zach to take his cap off. A twitch of a smile held that
contained amusement. There was hope for the ship's cook afterall. Or
maybe it was the man that stood next to him as he took a look at
Collin in another light. There was something about his
friend that commanded respect. "May I bae presentin' to yea,
Horace McNicholas, the mon tae captain the ship over and will remain
to train yea, and this bae Zach Malliard, he goes by Duck for his
excellent preparation of duckling. Which he will bae
having a feast made of such in celebration on the ship tomorrow
evenin' in yea honor." Collin would find out later the nickname
given the captain being Warhorse. Man was loyal yet surly,
took his duties seriously, reliable and knowledgeable. Big burly man
but next to Collin he was not as much so, Joseph noticed. Zion
had commissioned the one for this task for those very
qualities which Collin would find out later too when the two had time
for a more in-depth conversation.

Collin turned a blue eye scrutiny on
each and found neither wanting as he shook their hands in turn.
"I look forward to working with you both." He was assured
by the captain he would be given an account of each sailor hired that
would be staying for at least a year on The Dragonfly. Ship's logs
would be gone over with him and all such necessary information.
"I would suggest you two take your reprieve in the
Dockside Tavern run by JD. Let her know I sent you and who you
are." Which he pointed out to them for it wasn't far from where
they had made their way up from the dock to the boardwalk.
"Horace, Duck, if you'll not be staying on the ship I suggest the
Thistle for a room. There is also no cost there." The two were well
mannered enough to fit in with the crowd that came to the
Thistle. A short discussion followed before Horace and Duck
headed for the recommended tavern and Collin escorted Joseph to the
Thistle. "I will be setting up a room for you in the castle. We
have a set of suites for me and me brothers to use so there is plenty
of room." A statement than a question for he would be sure Joe
got what was due his status but even more for their friendship.